DCR Central Region Lifeguarding

DCR’s Central Region offers lifeguard opportunities at fifteen different aquatic facilities:

Table of Contents

PoolsDesignated Swimming Areas
Veterans Memorial Swimming Pool (Worcester)Douglas State Forest (Douglas)
Philip Weihn Memorial Swimming Pool (Clinton)Dunn State Park (Gardner)
Gustave Johnson Memorial Swimming Pool (Fitchburg)Erving State Forest
Sen. P. Eugene Casey Memorial Pool (Milford)Hopkinton State Park
Dennis F. Shine Memorial Swimming Pool (Vernon Hill, Worcester)Lake Dennison (Winchendon)
 Lake Wyola State Park (Shutesbury)
 Quinsigamond State Park – Regatta Point (Worcester)
 Quinsigamond State Park – Lake Park (Worcester)
 Rutland State Park
 Leominster State Forest

For Additional Information

For further information on working in the Central Region or for information on upcoming swim assessments, certification courses or skill development opportunities please contact:

Lauren Hopper               |             (857) 208-1225                |               dcr.pwscentral@mass.gov

To Apply

To apply for a position, please visit Pool and Waterfront Safety Application

DCR-Sponsored Lifeguard Certification Courses

DCR offers qualified lifeguard candidates that end up working for DCR over the upcoming summer an opportunity to become certified at no cost.  Persons who participate in a DCR training program and then who do not to work for DCR over the course of the upcoming summer will be expected to pay for the certification course themselves.  This cost can be upwards of $400.

Most DCR lifeguarding courses use a Blended Format.  These classes have an online component that must be completed before the in-person pool sessions.

  • The online component takes approximately 8 hours to complete. Please plan accordingly and distribute this learning over a period of days.
  • Do not wait until the last minute to do the online training. Any issues with the technology or accessing the Red Cross training site must be resolved in time to allow completion of the online content before the in-person session. We recommend completing the online training at least one week prior to the in-person sessions.
  • Candidates must print and bring proof of completion of the online content to the in-person session.

Candidates who do not bring proof of completion to the in-person sessions will not be able to attend the in-person sessions and will not be eligible for certification.  This is a Red Cross policy.

Central Region Lifeguarding, Lifeguarding Recerts, Waterfront and WSI Courses for 2025

Successful completion of a Lifeguarding or Lifeguarding Review course will provide candidates with certification in Lifeguarding, First Aid and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer. Certification is valid for two years.

Individuals looking to work at a DCR waterfront will also need to complete the Red Cross Waterfront Skills Module.  This course is typically scheduled in May and June.

Some YMCA Lifeguarding courses may include waterfront certification. If your YMCA Lifeguarding course contains Waterfront Skills, this should be noted on your certification.  If your certification does not indicate Waterfront Skills you will need to complete a Waterfront Skills course in order to work at a beach.

To be eligible for an American Red Cross Review course, your certification must be current. The Red Cross will allow a 30 day grace period for enrollment into a review course.  If your certification has expired by 31 days or more you must take a full course to become certified.

To register for any of these courses, please contact our DCR-Central team at dcr.pwscentral@mass.gov.  Class sizes are limited, and registration is first-come, first-served, so don’t wait until the last few classes to get certified – there may be no spaces left. Participants must attend all class dates listed for each course.

You can also direct questions to Lauren Hopper, PWS Central Region Recruitment Manager, via phone at (857) 208-1225.

Course Name Lifeguard WinterDateTimeLocation
Lifeguarding Pre-course       One Required for course below12/8/24 OR 12/14/249:00 AM– 11:00 AMWorcester YWCA
Lifeguarding with Waterfront. 
December School Vacation
12/22/24, 12/23/24 &
12/26 – 12/28
9:00 AM– 4:00 PM Every DayWorcester YWCA
Lifeguarding Pre-course.    One Required for course belowSaturday 1/4/25 OR           Saturday 2/8/259:00 AM– 11:00 AMWorcester YWCA
Lifeguarding with Waterfront. February School Vacation

 

Sunday 2/16/25 
Tuesday 2/18/25

Wed 2/19/25

Thursday 2/20/25

9:00 AM– 4:00 PM

Every Day

Worcester YWCA
Lifeguarding Pre-course Required for course belowFriday 1/314:00 PM-6:00 PMWestborough YMCA
Blended Learning- Lifeguarding with Waterfront. February School Vacation

Monday 2/17/25

Tuesday 2/18/25

Wed 2/19/25

Thursday 2/20

9:00 AM-5:00 PM     

Every Day

Westborough YMCA
Lifeguarding Pre-course.   One Required for course belowTuesday 2/4/25 OR            Thursday 2/6/256:00 PM- 8:00 PMGreenfield YMCA
Lifeguarding with Waterfront. February School Vacation

 

Monday 2/17/25

Tuesday 2/18/25

Wed 2/19/25

Thursday 2/20

Noon-8:30 PM

Every Day

Greenfield YMCA
    
Lifeguard SpringDateTimeLocation
Lifeguarding with Waterfront. March

Sunday 3/16/25

Monday 3/17/25

Tuesday 3/18/25

Wed 3/19/25

Thursday 3/20/25

9:00am-4:00PM

4:00 PM- 9:00 PM

4:00 PM- 9:00 PM

4:00 PM- 9:00 PM

4:00 PM- 9:00 PM

Worcester YWCA
Lifeguarding with Waterfront. March3/15, 3/15. 3/22, 3/227:00 AM- 3:30PMBoxborough Swym Fit
Lifeguarding Pre-course Required for course belowFriday 3/14/254:00 PM- 6:00 PMFitchburg YMCA
Blended Learning- Lifeguarding with Waterfront. April

Wed 4/9/25

Thursday 4/10/25

Friday 4/11/25

Saturday 4/12/25

Sunday 4/13/25

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM

1:00PM-6:00PM

9:00am-5:00PM

Fitchburg YMCA
Lifeguarding Pre-course Required for course belowSaturday 4/5Noon-2pmWorcester YMCA
Blended Learning- Lifeguarding with Waterfront. April School Vacation

Wed 4/23/25

Thursday 4/24/25

Friday 4/25/25

10:30am-7:30pm

9:30am-5:30pm

Noon-7:30pm

Worcester YMCA
Lifeguarding Pre-course.   One Required for course belowTuesday 4/8/25 OR            Thursday 4/10/256:00 PM- 8:00 PMGreenfield YMCA
Lifeguarding with Waterfront. April School Vacation

Monday 4/21/25

Tuesday 4/22/25

Wed 4/23/25

Thursday 4/24/25

Noon- 8:30 PM   

Every Day

Greenfield YMCA
    
Lifeguard RECERT- WinterDateTimeLocation
Lifeguarding with Waterfront Recert- DEC School Vaca

Fri 12/20/24 &

Sat 12/21/24

9:00 AM- 4:00 PM both daysWorcester YWCA
Lifeguarding with Waterfront Recert- JAN

Sat 1/4/25 &

Sun 1/5/25

9:00 AM- 4:00 PM both daysWorcester YWCA
Lifeguarding with Waterfront Recert- FEB School VacaMon 2/17/25 & Tues 2/18/2510:30 AM- 4:30 PM both daysWorcester YMCA
Lifeguard RECERT- SpringDateTimeLocation
Lifeguarding with Waterfront Recert- MarchSat 3/15/25 & Sun 3/16/259:00 AM- 4:00 PM both daysWorcester YWCA
Lifeguarding with Waterfront Recert- April

Thurs 4/3/25

Friday 4/4/25

Saturday 4/5/25

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM

4:00 PM- 8:00 PM

1:00PM- 6:00 PM

Fitchburg YMCA
Lifeguarding with Waterfront Recert- April

Tue 4/15/25,

Wed 4/16/25 & Thurs 4/17/25

5:00 PM- 9:00 PM

Every Day

Greenfield YMCA
Lifeguarding with Waterfront Recert- April School VacaSat 4/26/25 & Sun 4/27/25

Noon- 5:30 PM

both days

Worcester YMCA
Course Name WaterfrontDateTimeLocation
Waterfront SkillsSaturday 5/31/2510am-4pmQuinsigamond State Park
Course Name                     WSIDateTimeLocation
WSI2/20, 2/21, 2/229:00AM- 4:00PM Every DayWayside Athletic Club
WSI- Blended Learning5/10,5/11,5/17,5/18

7:00 AM- 1:30 PM

Every Day

Worcester Country Club

Central Region CPR/AED Classes

Massachusetts state law requires lifeguards employed by the state or its municipalities to undergo CPR certification annually.  If your CPR certification was issued before September 2, 2024, you will need to attend a CPR Basic Life Support / Professional Rescuer Review Course.

To register for any of these courses, please contact Lauren Hopper via phone (857) 208-1225 or via email dcr.pwscentral@mass.gov.

Course Name CPR WinterDateTimeLocation
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification12/19/2410:00AM- 2:00PMWorcester VC
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification1/4/2510:00AM- 2:30PMWorcester VC
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification1/11/2510:00AM- 2:30PMWorcester VC
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification1/25/2510:00AM- 2:30PMWorcester VC
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification2/15/2510:00AM- 2:30PMGreenfield Library
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification2/18/2510:00AM- 2:30PMWorcester VC
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification2/21/2510:00AM- 2:30PMLeominster Library
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification3/8/2510:00AM- 2:30PMWorcester VC
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification3/13/2510:00AM- 2:30PMWorcester VC
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification3/19/2510:00AM- 2:30PMWorcester VC
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification4/5/2510:00AM- 2:30PMWorcester VC
ARC- CPR Pro Recertification4/26/2510:00AM- 2:30PMWorcester VC

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